Your upcoming Camino is on the horizon and it’s time to start preparing
Because, even if the Camino de Santiago is not the Pacific Crest Trail and you will not be carrying a heavy backpack, it’s always a (very) good idea to prepare for your hike before you hit the trail. The good news is that preparing for the Camino does not require a huge investment in time, resources or sore muscles.
We suggest you start your training at least three months prior to your tour.
Training for your Hike
- Go for (at least) a half-hour walk, ideally three or four times a week. The more you get out, the stronger you will feel. However, you also must feel like you are exercising, so remember to walk as briskly as possible.
- Gradually build up your endurance and training frequency. Start with two weekly outings and slowly add more as you feel stronger. If 30 minutes is a lot at the beginning, then try 20 and work from there. You should feel tired but satisfied at the end of a walk, not exhausted and miserable.
- Carry a small daypack on your walks that does not weigh more than 4 pounds (1.8 kilos). It is highly unlikely that you will be carrying more than this in your daypack.
- Wear the same footwear you will wear on tour, even if you are training on sidewalks. New shoes on a hike usually result in painful blisters.
- Your aim is to comfortably walk 2.5 miles (4 kms.) in an hour on a level terrain.
